Storytime 8: Viral by Dan Surber and Slam, Shatter, Scream by Justin Webb. Horror stories for scary days.

In this heavy yet gripping episode, Kayla and Rachel record from the closet amidst a backdrop of global tension and personal transitions. The duo navigates the "dark energy" of the world by leaning into the stories sent in by their listeners—specifically, two chilling tales of horror that mirror the unsettling atmosphere of the week.In This Episode, We Discuss:A Father’s Perspective on Voice: Rachel reads a thoughtful email from her dad, Dave, who offers a structured and spiritual take on what "voice" means in storytelling—defining it as the different paths multiple characters take toward a single, predetermined destination.Viral by Dan Surber: Kayla reads part one of a meta-horror story involving a "golden boy" university student, a Ring doorbell camera, and a terrifying home invasion. The girls break down the tension-building techniques, the surprise twist, and the mechanics of writing a convincing slasher.Slam, Shatter, Scream by Justin Webb: Rachel reads the first half of a supernatural horror story from a London-based author. The story follows Nicole, an atheist who finds herself spiraling into fear as strange noises disrupt the silence of her apartment—and her increasingly strained marriage.The Nuance of Dialogue: A look at how Justin Webb uses realistic, frustrating marital dialogue to build tension without relying on explicit tone descriptors.The "Darling" Debate: Rachel and Kayla discuss the balance between rich character backstory and the fast-paced requirements of a short story.Featured Stories:"Viral" by Dan Surbur (Part 1)"Slam, Shatter, Scream" by Justin Webb (Part 1)Stay Tuned: We’re leaving you on a cliffhanger! Join us next time for Part 2 of both stories, along with a special reading by Janine Inez and a deep dive into Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash.Connect with Us: Have a story you want us to read? Send us an email! We love hearing from you and—as Kayla guarantees—we can tell the difference between your talent and an AI."We can't step into the same river twice because the river keeps on moving. So either the river has changed, or you have changed."Please subscribe, rate and review! New episodes every other Wednesday.E-mail us your short story at [email protected] us on instagram @writeyourheartoutpod Leave us a message at 650-260-4885